Saturday 18th May, 2019

Accra, May 18, GNA – Augustine Arhinful,
former player of the senior national team, the Black Stars, has called on coach
Kwesi Appiah to ensure a blend of “experienced and a youthful players” in his
squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

Coach Appiah is set to name a 30-man
provisional squad on Monday, May 20, ahead of the continental showpiece.

Speaking in an interview with the GNA
Sports, he said the team cannot afford to overlook its experienced players,
neither can it rely solely on the inexperienced ones.

He said a good blend of the experienced and
the youthful players, would be the best composition for the team.

Arhingful said, experienced players, like
captain Asamoah Gyan, Dede Ayew, Harrison Afful and John Boye among others
would provide an invaluable quality to the team, as well as mentor the young
and upcoming players.

“Football is always blended of the youth and
experienced ones. So let’s blend the old and the new ones and hope that luck be
on our side to win the competition,” he said.

He noted that, the team should be focused in
their preparations and close their ears to the “negativities” in the media.

“I think the negativity out there is too
much, We should rather duel on positives. The radio debate would always be
there, but the technical team and the players should stay focus.”

The 32nd edition of this year's AFCON
tournament would start from June 21 to July 19 with Ghana pitted in Group F
alongside defending champions Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau.